Is there anything better than a really good cup of coffee? But to truly achieve this, properly made espresso drinks (such as cappuccino or latte) require less machines and more handcrafting. “A sign of a well-made drink is the art that sits on top of the cup,” says Brycen Beam; café manager at Twisted Tulip coffee shop in Livingston.
“Our favorite type of ‘latte art’ is the tulip. So ‘Twisted Tulip’ indicates that we’re both high end and interested in creative approaches.”
More from Best of NJ
Twisted Tulip Supports Their Community
Of course, they know competition is out there in the java world. But Twisted Tulip is different in many ways, says Beam; First off, they buy their coffee “super fresh locally” from Jersey City, so they receive it within 24 hours. (And use it all within 2 to 3 weeks.)
As for the food side of the menu, they source their options from small local bakers. You’ll find a selection of sandwiches, salads, and even a parfait on their new Grab n Go Food Menu. “All new items will be made locally and served fresh, or not at all,” says Beam. You’ll also find scones and biscuits from the local A Butter Life Bakery; offerings include lemon lavender scones, cranberry orange scones, cheddar corn chive biscuits, and zucchini goat cheese biscuits. Beam also raves about Twisted Tulip’s chocolate chip cookies. They make them from scratch in house with premium ingredients, she says.
“Coffee is light roasted, which gives it a shorter shelf life; but also makes it much more fragrant and full of different flavors,” says Beam. They make drinks according to traditional and time-tested formulas. They don’t oversize them, either; rather, they serve orders in traditional portions.
As Homemade As It Gets
They even make the syrups in house. “If you get vanilla syrup, we’ve made it from vanilla beans. Lavender syrup is made from lavender that our manager picks during season.” In fact, they hand craft all drinks without automated machinery. “We know our products cost a bit more than the national chains,” says Beam. “But we can assure our customers that they’re made by hand with local products and of the highest quality.”
They also commit to sustainable, eco-friendly practices. They use paper straws and buy products that are as recyclable as possible. In addition, the staff works diligently to reduce waste. “Sustainability is deeply important to everyone in the coffee industry and we want to do our part,” says Beam.
Local Roots
When it came time to decide on a location, opening in Livingston was an easy choice. The owners are longtime residents who raised their kids in town. “We wanted to do something local,” says Beam. “We believe strongly in cafe culture and felt Livingston and the local area needed a place like this.”
Twisted Tulip aims to be part of the local fabric of the community. They support local causes and offer their space for community events. “We believe in NJ first and want to do our part to show everyone how good the NJ coffee scene is,” Beam explains.
The coffee shop seats about 18 indoors and 10 to 12 outdoors. “It’s Tuscany meets Brooklyn,” Beam describes, speaking to the décor and vibe. “We want our cafe to have the feel of a Tuscan hill, but be cool like Brooklyn.”
You’ll find Twisted Tulip at 277 Eisenhower Parkway in Livingston. To learn more, visit their website or give them a call.
Click here to find the latest restaurants open in New Jersey.
All Photos: © Twisted Tulip / Facebook